Also 4–6 compyle. [a. F. compile-r (14th c. in Godef.) to put together, collect; (commonly taken as):—L. compīlā-re to plunder, pillage, rob, steal, snatch together and carry off.
The history is by no means clear. In reference to literary ‘compiling,’ compīlātor was applied reproachfully by rivals to Vergil, and this is commonly taken as = ‘plunderer’; but Isidore (a. 640), in reference to this very circumstance, says ‘Compilator, qui aliena dicta suis permiscet, sicut solent pigmentarii in pila diversa mixta contundere,’ where the etymological explanation ‘to mix in a mortar,’ implies at least that no sense of ‘plunder’ any longer attached to the word. In med.L. Du Cange has compilatus = ‘exstructus,’ said of an arch; Godef. has OF. compilé = ‘constructed, built,’ of a palace, which seem also to point to some other derivation. Cf. branch II. below.]
I. With reference to literary work, and the like.
1. trans. To collect and put together (materials), so as to form a treatise; to collect into a volume.
c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., II. Prol. 24. Of hys storys þa wyll I Compyle, þat me-thynk mast lykly Tyl oure Matere accordande.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 1 b. Yf I had them compyled in one treatyse.
1577. trans. Bullinger’s Decades (1592), 7. Moses in his historie compileth the traditions of the fathers.
1669. W. Simpson, Hydrol. Chym., 215. The most select experiments compil’d together.
1880. L. Stephen, Pope, iii. 77. Compiling notes to the Iliad from Eustathius.
2. To make, compose, or construct (a written or printed work) by arrangement of materials collected from various sources.
1375. [see COMPILING].
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), II. 77. Broþer Ranulf monk of Chestre compiled and made þis present cronicle.
1447. Bokenham, Seyntys (Roxb.), 13. I wolde compyle A clere descrypcyoun … Of alle hyr feturys.
c. 1510. Barclay, Mirr. Good Mann. (1570), F vj. If thou take vpon thee a coment to compile … on Ouid or Virgile.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 159. Osmun who compiled the Alkoran out of Mahomets loose paper.
1703. Maundrell, Journ. Jerus. (1732), 104. The twelve Apostles … are said to have compil’d their Creed in this place.
1748. W. Adams, in Boswell, Johnson, viii. The French Academy … took forty years to compile their Dictionary.
1839. Keightley, Hist. Eng., II. 81. Cranmer … compiled a liturgy in English.
† b. Predicated of the materials. Obs. rare.
1645. Milton, Tetrach. (1851), 200. I omit many instances … which alone would compile a just volume.
† 3. To compose as original work (esp. a work of definite form or structure, e.g., a sonnet). Obs.
1475. Caxton, Jason, 114 b. I shal compyle an epistle.
a. 1500. Songs Costume (Percy Soc.), 54. This litel schort dyté, Rudely compyled, lat it be noon offence.
1509. (title) A Mornynge Remembraunce … Compyled by the Reuerent Fader in God, Johan Fisher Bysshop of Rochester.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., IV. iii. 134. Longauile, Did neuer Sonnet for her sake compile.
1598. Marlowe, Hero & L., I. Some, their violent passions to assuage, Compile sharp satires.
† 4. To render (into another language); to translate. Obs.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 178/2. His passyon bede compyled out of greek in to latyn.
1586. W. Webbe, Eng. Poetrie (Arb.), 55. Googe, in translating and enlarging the most profitable worke of Heresbachius, hath deserued much commendation … for hys faythfull compyling and learned increasing the noble worke.
II. In other senses.
[In some of these, evidently associated with PILE to heap; but not necessarily derived therefrom: see note to the derivation.]
† 5. To heap together, pile up; to gather or form into a heap or mass. Obs.
1578. Banister, Hist. Man, V. 76. Nature hath boulstred the same [vein] with many Glandules compiled together.
1581. J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 457. In this one portion of accusation, I doe perceave two severall crimes compyled together.
1695. Woodward, Nat. Hist. Earth, II. (1723), 80. The Strata are compil’d … every where after the very same Method.
1725. Bradley, Fam. Dict., s.v. Pit fall, Light straight Sticks … which you must compile one over another.
1812. W. Taylor, in Monthly Mag., XXXIV. 318. Dung is collected for fuel, not compiled for manure.
† 6. To construct by putting together materials; to make up, build. Obs.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., III. iii. 10. A brazen wall in compas to compyle About Cairmardin.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1673), 185. Cloth compiled of Asses and Goats hair.
1682. Wheler, Journ. Greece, I. 79. Of such are compiled the present Buildings of the Town.
† b. Predicated of the materials. Obs. Cf. 2 b.
1592. Greene, Melicertus’ Eclog., viii. Aurora brought her blush, the moon her white; Roth so combin’d … Compil’d those pretty orbs [ = her cheeks].
1594. Spenser, Amoretti, lxxx. So long a race as I haue run Through Faery land, which those six bookes compile.
† 7. To compose. Obs. rare–1
1596. Spenser, F. Q., IV. ix. 17. When the prince had perfectly compylde These paires of friends in peace and setled rest.
8. Cricket slang. To make, ‘pile up,’ or ‘score’ (a number, esp. a large number, of runs).
1884. Times, 5 Feb., 10/2. It was not until he had compiled 126 that he had the misfortune to play a ball on to his wicket.
1884. Daily News, 16 Feb., 5/2. New South Wales ‘compiled’ (as the slang goes) 412.
Hence Compiled ppl. a.
1886. Athenæum, 31 July, 147/2. The value that would otherwise attach to the compiled information as to Canada.
